This article explains the context and meanings of the most popular Greek last names.
Read to learn more about Greek surnames or discovery family ties!
Constantinople was the capital of this Christian state, and their official language was Greek.
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Greek surnames began with this empire as Byzantine royalty started to use them around the 9th century.
Ottoman Empire:
The next wave of history began in 1299 when Osman I founded theOttoman Empire.
Religion also played a major role during new leadership for the Ottomans were Muslims.
However, to keep the public from rebelling, they allowed Christians and Jews to continue practicing their faith.
Around this time, surnames were still not very common.
This freedom from the Ottoman Empire is what truly sparked the commonality of Greek surnames.
So lets dive into the 70+ most popular Greek last names we have found!
AngelopoulosMeaning: son of the messenger/angel.
AlexopoulosMeaning: derived from the personal name Alexios with the patronymic ending poulos.
AthanasiouMeaning: derived from the Greek name Athanasios meaning immortal.
ChristodoulopoulosMeaning: descendant of Christs servant.
ChronisMeaning: derived from Chronos meaning time or year.
DanielopoulosMeaning: patronymic surname meaning son of Daniel.
DemetriouMeaning: child or follower of Demeter, the Greek goddess of fertility.
DougenisMeaning: derived from doulos meaning slave, servant; genis meaning being born.
DoukasMeaning: duke or lord.
DrakosMeaning: dragon or ogre.
EconomosMeaning: An occupational surname given to stewards or anyone who manages property.
Derived from the Greek word oikonomos meaning steward.
FrangopoulosMeaning: patronymic surname meaning descendant of Frank.
GalanisMeaning: someone with light blue eyes.
GeorgiouMeaning: wife or kin of Georgios; derived from the husbands surname.
HatziMeaning: Greek annotation of Hajj, meaning a person who has completed a pilgrimage.
IoannouMeaning: child of John.
KalogeropoulosMeaning: son of the monk.
KokkinosMeaning: the color red.
KourisMeaning: someone who lived in a forest.
LoukanisMeaning: sausage; occupational Greek family name given to a butcher or a sausage maker
LykaiosMeaning: wolf.
MoustakasMeaning: a person with a mustache.
NomikosMeaning: relating to the law or legal.
OthonosMeaning: derived from the Greek word Otto meaning wealth or fortune.
PantazisMeaning: always live or live forever.
PapadakisMeaning: father or priest (akis stemming from Crete).
PapadopoulosMeaning: son of a priest.
PapazoglouMeaning: priests son.
PavlidesMeaning: son of Pavlos.
PersopoulosMeaning: descendant of a Persian
SamarasMeaning: saddler or saddle maker.
SarrisMeaning: derived from the Turkish word sari, meaning blond, fair-haired.
ServopoulosMeaning: son of a Serb.
TheodoropoulosMeaning: son of Theodoros; Theodoros meaning god-given or gods gift.
VasilakisMeaning: derived from the Greek word Vasilikos meaning basil.
VoulgaropoulosMeaning: descendant of a Bulgarian
VouvaliMeaning: buffalo.
ZafeiriouMeaning: derived from zafeiri meaning sapphire; when used as a surname, it means son of Zafeiris.
